The Secret of the Alchemist

The Fate of the Stone Trilogy

By: John Ward

Narrated by: Colin Moody

What would you do if your father sent you a key that could unlock the most powerful secret of the ancient world? Would you get involved, at the risk of bringing its terrible magic back to life? In this novel that pits Good, Love, and Nature against Evil, Hate and Artifice, two teenagers, Jake and Helen, meet as contestants at a literary festival in Florence, Italy. When Helen's father, an art dealer, leaves her a mysterious note asking her to recover a key, she and Jake find themselves in this very dilemma. The Secret of the Alchemist weaves magic, literature and the exhilarating power of friendship into a story unlike any other.

©2003 John Ward (P)2004 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"A delightful mix of The Da Vinci Code, the Harry Potter series, and Nancy Drew adventures, this story has all the elements of a great mystery. Helen, a poor little rich girl, meets Jake, hapless tourist, and they set off on a dangerous quest to rescue a famous painting and, in doing so, save Helen’s scheming father. Colin Moody imparts the varied European accents with aplomb, successfully switching between Scottish, Italian, and French-speaking characters. His ability to characterize dead poets and saints is admirable. As a first part of the Fate of Stone series, the novel provides a satisfying ending and leaves...enough questions to look for the next installment." ( AudioFile)